at home sick

We're at home sick today. I'll spare you the details, but all I want to do is crawl in my bed and sleep. As most of you know, that's impossible when you have little sickies to care for, also.

So, here are some pictures that caught my eye:

My daughters love McDonald's (they definitely get that from their Daddy). Above they are enjoying chocolate milkshakes while Mommy continues her strict weight loss plan. Gotta love the injustice.

 My girls are playing together more frequently these days. Usually, they genuinely get along and enjoy each other and it literally warms my heart. I love the squeals of laughter I hear when they are playing and getting along.

Other times, Zoey wants breaks from Kaia and builds little barricades that say, "No Baby Kaia." When I told Zoey I didn't like that, she wrote, "Yes Baby Kaia" on the other side and told me she'll flip the sign when she's ready to play with Kaia. Clearly, the barricades are effective even when Zoey is away.

These cute girls are home from church on a relatively warm Sunday afternoon in new dresses from Grandma Olson. They're hungry and ready for naps (K and Mommy) but allowed one quick picture. Love these girls.

And you can click here for more pictures of our cute girls!

weekend getaway

It has been a long time since the husband and I have gone away together. Actually, we have not gone away since long before Zoey was born - you know, back when we didn't really need to get away. SO, when the husband asked what I wanted for Christmas this year, I told him I wanted something BIG and that he had my permission to combine it with an anniversary gift: a short trip away. My only requirements were that the getaway had to be TWO nights(as opposed to only one) and that HE had to do the planning.

We went. Away. Alone. It was heaven.

We slept - really slept. We ate my favorite food in the world - twice. We went to the D.C. Temple. We shopped. We talked. We kissed. We reminisced. We stayed at a fancy schmancy hotel. They upgraded us to the presidential suite and the shower was bigger than our entire bathroom at home and the private rooftop patio was big enough to entertain all our closest friends, had they been there. Which they weren't. Thankfully.

We watched movies and cuddled. I didn't do my hair or make-up. I turned my brain OFF and it stayed that way until we arrived home. Did I mention it was heaven?

 Where were our girls, you ask? With these people, who continue to love us and our daughters. Though we really do not deserve them, we love and appreciate their family SO much.

Twelve Years

Do you remember that time we went to the Oakland Temple to be sealed together as husband and wife?
Do you remember how we were both a little nervous but really just very excited?
Do you remember being surrounded by the closest of friends and family?
Do you remember literally feeling the sealing power, and knowing we were in this together - forever?
Do you remember my beautiful white gown and tiny waist?
Do you remember holding hands all day long?
Do you remember the beautiful purple roses, the ones you still buy for me?
Do you remember the awkwardness at the reception, seeing so many people we didn't really know, and the worst photographer ever?
Do you remember the deliciousness of the cake and our first dance as husband and wife?
Do you remember the generosity of people's time, money, and gifts?

I remember. And you're still the one.